Convertible roof structure for tents, cabanas, and the like



J. G. HAISTY Oct. 4, 1938.

CONVERTIBLE ROOF STRUCTURE FOR TENTS, CABANAS, AND THE LIKE Filed May 20, 1937 INVENTOR. JAM/5s GARLAND HRISTY A T TORNE Y Patented Oct. 4, 1938 rArrNr OFFICE CONVERTIBLE ROOF STRUCTURE FOR 'TENTS', GABANAS, AND THE LIKE 5 oiains'.

This invention relates to new and useful im-' provements in a convertible roof structure for a tent, a cabana, a srhal-l' building, a trailer, or other similar structure.

The invention has for an object the provision of a roof structure for a device as mentioned which is capable of being pivoted around so as to' extend outwards and form an awning or porch for the device.

The advantage of this arrangement resides in the fact that then the device may be com verted to a solarium and the roof used outside of the device as an awning or' a shield from winds.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the" association of the roof structure with a plurality of substantially vertical wallsdividing oif a space" for persons. The' vertical wallsmay be the walls of a tent; at cabana; a small build ing, a trailer, or other similar device.

It is proposed to arrange the roof structure so that itengages over said walls for closing the top' of the space and to arrange the roof'struc time to be hingedly connected" atone side to the top of one of the walls. It is: proposed to pro vide a means for revolvingand holding said roof structure on said hinged "de' in various raised and extended positions to open the top of said space and to extend outwards of said con nect-ed wall to form an awning.-

Another object of the invention is the con struction of a device as described which is si-rny ple and durable and which may be manufacturedand sold at a; reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, refer ence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to" the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawingzforming amaterial part of this" disolosurez Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a* tent with a roof structure constructed according to this in vention shown in the extended position acting as an awning;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of Fig. 1 seen from the top looking from the back towards the front.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the device shown with the roof structure in the closed. position.

The convertible roof structure for tents and the like, according to this invention, is assoand holding said roof structure ciated with a plurality of substantially vertical walls I'Oa, Mb, Hlcand Hid" dividing off a space therebetween for persons. These walls may be the walls" of a tent,- cabana, small building, trailer or the like. The roof structure, indicated 5 by numeral II, is adapted to' engage over the walls for closing the top of the space and is hingedly connectedat oneside'to the top of one of said walls. A means is provided for revolving side in various raised and extended positions to open the top of said space and to extend outwards of said connected wall to form an awning.

The walls illustrated on the drawing are those of a tent. But this" showing is notpintended as a limitation: The tent is formed from a frame structure which includes a topihorizontal frame l2 and a bottom horizontal frame I3' held in spaced positions by vertical corner posts M. The front'wall I'Ba is formed with a door frame open ing Ma. The front wall Illa also has an extended portion I5'above the topfranie I-2. This extended portion is reinforced with braces It. The side walls lllb and Ind have inclined top edges extending from the tops of the extensions 15 down to the frame IL. The frame structures are covered with cloth material ll customarily used for tents. The exact details of the construction of the walls of the tent are immaterial to a consideration of this invention, though a preferred form would include the inclination of the walls so that the roof structure may assume an inclined position to permit the water from rain to run off. Y

The roof structure H also comprises a frame such as the frame 18 which is braced at the center by a rod l9 and which is covered with cloth material 20. This cloth material is'extend ed atthe sides to form flap portions 20a as is customary in an awning construction;

The'framestructure 18 has aside [80. the ends of which areprovided with studs'hafts 21. These stud shafts rotatively engage through brackets 22-- which are attached to the top ends of the extensions t5: It is these bra'ckets which hing 4'5 edly support the roof structure. Onthe stud shafts 2| there are attached radial arms 23 which extend in the opposite direction to the roof structure and which are provided with weights 24 to act as counterweights to counterbalance the weight of the roof structure. It should be recognized that because of the counterweights it will be relatively easy to move the roof structure about its hinge support.

One of the stud shafts 2| is provided with a 55 H on said hinged 10 worm gear 25 which meshes with a worm pinion 26 fixed on a shaft 2'! rotatively supported in the bracket 28 which is attached to the bracket 22. The shaft 21 has a lower portion 21a formed with a ring 29 through which a handle 30 may be hooked. This handle 30 has a crank portion 30a by which it may be easily turned to turn the shaft 2'! and so the worm pinion 26 and the worm gear 25. From the gear 25 the stud shafts 2 I, and thus the roof structure I I will be pivoted.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective View of the tent with the roof structure extended forming an awning. This awning is braced by bracing rods 33 which are connected between brackets 34 secured upon.

the free end portion of the awning. These braces 33 may extend outwards at an angle towards the tent and be connected with brackets 35 secured on the front end of the lower. frame I 3. When the roof structure is hinged back to act as a roof the braces 33 are unhooked from the'brackets 34 and are then laid upon the ground along the sides of the tent as indicatedby the dot and dash lines 33' in Fig. 1.

. Fig. 4 shows the roof structure in a closed position. It should be noted. that it is inclined for the drainage of rain water. The dot and dash lines I I indicate the roof structure in a partially raised position. It may be used in any elevated position to cut off the wind while it permits light to enter the space between the walls. The worm pinion and worm gear are arranged to firmly hold the roof structure in any raised position.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing fromthe spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A convertible roof structure for tents, cabanas,. small buildings, trailers-and the like, comprising. a plurality of substantially vertical walls dividing off a space for persons,.a roof structure engaging over said walls for closing the top of said space and hingedly connected at one side to the top of one of said walls, and means for revolving and holding said roof structure on said hinged side invarious raised and extended positions to open the top of said space and to extend outwards of said connected wall to form an awning, said wall which is connected with the roof structure being formed with a door so that in the extended position of the roof structure it extends frontwards of the door to form a porch-for the front of the device.

2. A convertible roof structure for tents, cabanas, small buildings, trailers and the like, comprising a plurality of substantially vertical walls dividing off a space for persons, a roof structure engaging over said walls for closing the top of said space and hingedly connected at one side to the top of one of said walls, and means for revolving and holding said roof structure on said hinged side in various raised and extended positions to open'the top of said space and to extend outwards of said connected wall to form an awning, said hinged connection comprising stud shafts from the ends of the roof structure engaging brackets secured to said vertical walls, said stud shafts being provided with radial arms and weights on said radial arms to counterbalance the weight of the roof structure.

3. A convertible roof structure for tents, cabanas, small buildings, trailers and the like, comprising a plurality of substantially vertical walls dividing off a space for persons, a roof structure engaging over said walls for closing the top of said space and hingedly connected at one side to the top of one of said Walls, and means for revolving and holding said roof structure on said hinged side in Various raised and extended positions to open the top of said space and to extend outwards of said connected wall to form an awning, said hinged, connection comprising stud shafts from the ends of the roof structure engaging brackets secured to said vertical walls, one of said stud shafts being provided with a worm wheel, a worm pinion meshing with said worm wheel, a bracket for rotatively supporting said worm pinion and secured upon one of said side walls, and a handle for rotating said worm pinion.

4. A convertible roof structure for tents, cabanas, small buildings, trailers and the like, comprising a plurality of substantially vertical walls dividing off a space for persons, a roof structure engaging over said wallsfor closing the top of said space and hingedly connected at one side to the top of one of said walls, means for revolving and holding said roof structure on said hinged side in various raised and extended positions to open the top of said space and to extend outwards of said connected wall to form an awning, and means for bracing said awning, comprising brackets upon the roof structure, brace rods engaging said brackets, and brackets on the lower portions of certain of said walls for receiving said brace rods. 5.,A convertible roof structure for tents, cabanas, small buildings, trailers and the like, comprising, a plurality of substantially vertical walls dividing off a space for persons, a roof structure engaging over said walls for closing the top of said space and hingedly connected at one side to the top of one of said walls, means for revolving and holding said roof structure on said hinged side in various raised and extended positions to open the top of said space and to extend outwards of said connected wall to form an awning, and a handle for rotating said worm pinion, comprising brackets upon the aging said brackets, and brackets on the lower portions of certain of said walls for receiving said brace rods, said brace rods when disconnected from the roof structure being placeable along the sides of said tent or the like.

7 JAMES GARLAND HAISTY.

roof structure, brace rods en- 

